" Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. " - Proverbs 12:25
"Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with ---good--- words and ----comfortable--- words. " - Zec 1:12-13
"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth ---his beloved ---sleep. " - Psalm 127:1-2
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Stress seems to be the watchword for this age. We are "stressed out" by both big and little things --- the state of the world and our country, divisive politics and politicians, the person in the car ahead of us looking at his/her phone, oblivious that the light has changed, shopping for loved ones at Christmas, ... there is no end to this list!
Along with stress, is its brother, Anxiety (or as the KJV renders it.. Care). We are anxious about the security of our jobs, the possibility of losing the roof over our heads, not having any money to pay for healthcare for a sudden medical emergency, the state of our bank balances, and even ... where our next meal is going to come from. Truly, this is a heavy, heavy time --- and the whole country seems to be laboring under this spirit of heaviness.
Stress and anxiety are killers. The Mayo clinic lists the effects of stress on our body, mood, and behavior in this order...
Body : Headache, Muscle tension or pain, chest pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, stomach upsets, sleep problems, elevated blood pressure.
Mood : Anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation or focus, feeling overwhelmed, irritability or anger, sadness or depression
Behavior : Overeating or undereating, angry outbursts, drug or alcohol misuse, tobacco use, social withdrawal, exercising less often.
Their recommendations to address it are to focus on positive things, relaxation, meditation, spending time on hobbies or with friends and family (don’t know about that last one ... YMMV!) --- and these are all fine suggestions --- however, set us see what the Great Physician has to say!
A good Word --- we have heard that phrase often in Christian circles -- referring to a sermon or speech that is elevating, refreshing, inspirational and encouraging, and this week’s text from Proverbs, is where that saying originates -- some Bible trivia this week for you!
Let us just say however, that God's Word is ALL GOOD...and is very consistent when it comes to dealing with Stress and Anxiety.
A. Stressing out doesn't solve anything
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Our second text from Psalms is unique in that it is "A Song of Degrees for Solomon" -- linking the Book of Proverbs and Psalms. Its key message is unmistakable --- worrying is "vain", or "empty" -- of no value. You cannot fight God's purposes by worrying about them, or even fight FOR God's purposes without His approval --- so there is no value in working your fingers to the bone, rising up early, sleeping late --- if you leave things to Him ---- He will give you the REST/ SLEEP of peace!! ( We are His beloved, His church, those in whom His soul delights!! )
Our Lord asks "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? " (Mat 6:27) Worrying doesn't solve anything --- thinking, planning, and acting do!
Endless worrying is just a death spiral that makes you unable to do anything, and then you worry about your inability --- its very vicious!
Pray, Make a plan, and take baby steps towards it, trusting God to solve what you can't --- THAT is the way to deal with WORRY.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " - Philippians 4:6,7
B. Stressing out is condemned in the Word, and is a prime reason for unfruitlfulness.
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In the Parable of the Sower, our Lord says " He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the ------care of this world-----, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. " - Mat 13:22
Worrying is a sign of unbelief, lack of faith, lack of trust --- and a person who worries should examine his/her faith in the LORD. Are you really trusting that He will feed, clothe, and shelter you like He takes care of every creature in this world?
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father ---knoweth that ye have need of all these things--. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. "
"Take no thought/ for tomorrow" -- does ---NOT---repeat NOT--- mean don't plan or work towards it... that is foolishness --- and the --opposite-- of all the wisdom we have been studying about diligence, hard work/laziness etc. ! Take no thought means don't be ANXIOUS or STRESSED OUT about tomorrow!
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: --- Casting all your care upon him--- ; for he careth for you." - 1 Pe 5:6,7
Worrying occupies your brain with useless activity, instead of working towards addressing the source of the worry, or focusing on positive things, or DOING positive things.
Your brain can only deal with 1/ONE conscious thought at a time, and if WORRYING is all its doing, you are NOT using it to its full potential or glorifying God by bearing fruit!!! See what a killer it is??
C. How not to Stress?
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The moment we ask you to not think about pink elephants, is the moment you can't STOP thinking about them! ?
... so how can we get rid of these persistent worries that keep coming back despite our BEST efforts to get rid of them? How can we have faith when we are amid a truly dark situation? How can we not worry?
a. Focus on the positive -- there is much more positive than negative in the world.
Last week, we talked about Nature balancing the scales in the context of God's justice. There are Laws that we have discovered that say energy, mass, momentum, inertia -- are all conserved. Every action has an opposite, and exactly equal reaction.
These laws and balance are reflected (to take one example) in the Chinese Yin-Yang symbol, which shows a balance between light and dark, and one being contained in the other. This symbol is a DELUSION AND LIE!! Here is why...
Q. Do you think that there is more, the same, or less ---evil than good--- in this universe?
A. We may say... the same... or even... we don't know!... but think about it a little more deeply for a moment.
Inanimate/non-living matter (rocks etc.) doesn’t have a moral opinion -- it just is --- that eliminates the --VAST MAJORITY-- of the visible universe (Stars, Galaxies, Sun, Moon etc.)
Next, in all the living things on earth (the only planet with life that we have SO FAR discovered with our best telescopes and instruments) ... ONLY MAN has a moral sensibility. Animals just react on their instincts (though even those seem to reflect SOME kind of code).
Evil gets a lot more press, because it is sensational, and is actively promoted by the agents of the enemy --- BUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME -- there are much much more happy, healthy, living human beings than not, on our planet!
7.9 billion people on earth lived to see another day today ... that is NOT NEWS!!! A hit-and run in your local neighborhood -- front page!!
Your heart kept pumping and lungs kept functioning ... up to today. That is not news or acknowledged. But let there be a problem... and immediately we ask... where is GOD, He hates me, I hate my life.... --- really? Do you see how childish that seems?
b. Don't be greedy, but enjoy what you have been given, praising God for it, every day!
The push for fame, fortune, self-actualization, trying to be somebody, getting ahead of the Joneses --- these are killers. You brought nothing into the world, you won't take any of it with you, and whatever you have labored for, will soon be enjoyed by someone else.
" There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. " - Eccl 4:8
These people spend all their health, time, and brainpower to acquire that which does not make them happy... so... "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. " - Heb 13:5
c. Focus on the positives. This will take a CONSCIOUS EFFORT to overcome the attacks of the demons of worry, anxiety, stress, and fear.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, ---think on these things. --- Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of ---peace---- shall be with you. " --Phillippians 4:8
Our days on earth are like a mist that vanishes in the morning, a handsbreadth compared to the vastness of the universe. Let us not spend them in useless stressing, fretting, & worrying --- but look to wisely handle our affairs in righteousness, grace, and truth --- with the wisdom that the LORD will provide to all who ask Him for it.
We have no reason to fear or worry about anything, death is a gateway to a new life, and life on the earth is something to be savored and enjoyed, every day, every moment we are given to breathe in His creation!
Let us live not in darkness, but in the Light that is freely available in the LORD's GOOD Word... should we care to look thereon!
Hallelujah!!